News
Wrong cost estimates in state-funded projects lead to waste, corruption: experts
Experts have warned that construction costs estimated by the government are often much higher than market prices, creating opportunities for contractors and managers to work together and pocket the extra money. Keep reading ...
Boosting tourism between Laos and Thailand's Loei
Thailand’s Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (DASTA) is coming up with a plan to improve infrastructure and prepare routes to cash in on the growing traffic with Laos. The move is aimed at drawing visitors, particularly adventure-seeking and high-spending tourists, from the two nations and also ...
Vietnam's visa waiver policy fails to give tourism a strong boost: report
It has been two months since Vietnam started waiving visa for tourists from Germany, France, the UK, Italy and Spain. But Ung Phuong Dung, director of Indochina Services Travel Group, told Saigon Times Online that around half of her clients from these five European countries still ...
Vietnam plans to drop fines for some tax defaulters
The Ministry of Finance plans to forgo fines imposed on businesses which were behind their tax due date if their partners, including state agencies, had failed to pay them on time in accordance with contract terms. Keep reading ...
Southern farmers bring dead fish to province office to protest pollution
Fish farmers in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau on 7 August brought hundreds of kilograms of dead fish to the government office, accusing seafood processors of polluting a local river. The move came one day after they protested with dead fish in front of the ...
Bombing costs B64bn in lost tourism revenue
The Erawan shrine bombing in Bangkok cost 64.30 billion baht in lost tourism revenue from 1.33 million visitors and the industry should recover in the fourth quarter of 2015, the Tourism and Sports Ministry told the cabinet meeting on 8 September. Keep reading ...
Measures approved to revive SMEs
The cabinet on 8 September approved five tax and financial measures to help some 2 million SMEs as part of its stimulus packages to revive the economy. Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak said the packages should help strengthen existing SMEs and attract new operators with potential. Keep ...
In Laos' economic zone, a casino and illicit trade beckon in 'lawless playground'
Kings Romans Casino is the centerpiece of the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone, a 39-square-mile private concession in northwestern Laos, an impoverished communist country of 6.7 million between Thailand and Vietnam. As the name suggests, it is within the Golden Triangle, the area where Thailand, ...
Vietnam eyes lower transport prices
The Ministry of Transport is investigating transport companies who have failed to lower prices amid a drop in petrol costs. Since many transport firms have been slow to reduce their fees even after recent hefty petrol price cuts, the ministry has asked local transport departments to ...
Refugee in Cambodia asks to return home
One of the first four refugees resettled in Cambodia under a deal with Australia has requested to return to his native Rakhine State – the latest controversy to smack the much-ridiculed refugee arrangement. “He has requested to give up his [refugee] status and return to his ...
